How to grow Rhubarb in Australia
Plant crowns in full sun to light shade in deep, rich soil with plenty of compost. It is a hungry, thirsty plant, so water well in dry spells and feed generously each year.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 90 cm
- Time to harvest: 365 days (about 1 year)
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | April to July | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to August | Possible in hinterland frost pockets (Lismore, Kyogle). Coastal: marginal. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to August | Reliable in western Sydney and Blue Mountains. Coastal marginal. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to August | Melbourne is rhubarb country. Strong winter chill produces thick stems. A must-grow. |
| Adelaide & SA | March to August | Reliable in Adelaide Hills and outer suburbs. Summer heat can stress plants. |
| Perth & WA | April to July | Marginal in coastal Perth. Better in hills with more chill. |
| Tasmania | June to September | Plant crowns Jun to Sep while dormant. Hard frost grows the thickest reddest stems in the country. |
| Canberra & ACT | March to August | Canberra frost produces excellent rhubarb. A must-grow. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Needs winter chill. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Needs winter chill. |
Varieties
- Sydney Crimson
- Wandin Red
- Victoria
Companion planting
Good companions
- Strawberry
- Beans
- Brassicas
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Stalks are ready when long, firm and well coloured. Pull and twist each stalk from the base rather than cutting; leave several to keep the plant growing strong.
Storage
Fridge wrapped in a damp cloth for 1 week. Chop and freeze for months.